Three horses to back on the opening day of Punchestown Festival

By Hayley O'Connor

I love the Punchestown festival so much. It's usually the last we see of the top National Hunt horses for the season and the craic never disappoints.

The first race kicks off at 3.40 and then the first of three Grade One races gets underway at 4.20, the Champion Novice Hurdle. Of the seven runners, five already clashed at Cheltenham in the Supreme Novices where Labaik came out on top. He comes with a health warning in that sometimes when the tape lifts, he just refuses to race. Melon was the well-backed favourite but finished runner-up and Bunk Off Early got bashed around throughout the race. Pigshou was just generally disappointing, as were a number from Colid Tizzard's yard, but the stable bounced back at Aintree and so did he when he was a 16/1 winner of a Grade 1. I'm going to take my chance on Labaik (below) today and I think Pigshou could also feature.

My favourite National Hunt horse in training lines up in the Champion Chase at 5.30. His nearest rival in the betting is Fox Norton who won the Melling Chase at Aintree, another Tizzard winner in fact. He is a worthy rival of my fella but I just don't believe Un De Sceaux will let him win.

I think Roconga has a good chance in the Handicap Hurdle at 4.55. Usually in that race a bigger-priced horse wins, but I'm not too keen on those further down the handicap in this. 

Happy punting!